Barack Obama catches fainting pregnant woman during speech

President Barack Obama reaches back to Karmel Allison (EVAN VUCCI/AFP)

Barack Obama helps catch Karmel Allison after she became faint during his speech on Obamacare.

Barack Obama helped catch a pregnant woman when she became faint during his speech about the troubled Obamacare website, joking: "This happens when I talk too long".

Karmel Allison, who has type 1 diabetes, began to swoon as she stood behind the president during his 25-minute speech in the White House Rose Garden.

He interrupted his remarks to help her: "You're ok. I'm right here. I got you." As one of his aides helped lead Mrs Allison away, he added: "This happens when I talk too long."

She later took to Twitter to thank the commander-in-chief for the catch, saying: "I'm ok world- just got a little lightheaded.Thanks, @BarackObama for catching me! And good thing this pregnant diabetic is pregnant :)"

Mrs Allison, a biologist from San Diego, was one 13 people standing with Mr Obama as he spoke about the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.

Her husband David Allison, said: "I almost bolted to the stage but thought twice about how that would look to the Secret Service. So glad she's ok."

The White House described her as a "prospective" beneficiary of the new healthcare law, saying her insurance costs have risen steadily but she had been afraid to change insurance plans out of fear that no plan would accept her because of her diabetes.

The new law prevents insurance companies from refusing coverage because of pre-existing conditions.